The New England Patriots lost their eighth game of the season on Sunday, falling to the Indianapolis Colts 10-6 in Frankfurt, Germany. The game was part of the NFL’s International Series, which aims to expand the league’s global reach and fan base. However, for the Patriots, it was another disappointing performance that exposed their offensive and defensive weaknesses.
Colts dominate the trenches, sack Jones five times
One of the main reasons for the Patriots’ loss was their inability to protect their rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who was sacked five times in the first half alone. The Colts’ defensive line, led by DeForest Buckner and Tyquan Lewis, overwhelmed the Patriots’ offensive line, which was missing starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn due to injury. Jones was under constant pressure and could not find his rhythm or his receivers.
The Colts also controlled the line of scrimmage on the other side of the ball, as they ran for 132 yards on 32 carries. Their star running back Jonathan Taylor had 89 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts, while backup Nyheim Hines added 43 yards on 11 carries. The Patriots’ run defense, which had been one of their strengths in previous games, failed to contain the Colts’ rushing attack.
Patriots’ offense fails to score a touchdown, misses opportunities
The Patriots’ offense, which had scored 24 points in their last game against the Jets, was held to just two field goals by the Colts’ defense. The Patriots had a promising start with their longest opening drive of the season, but a sack on third down forced them to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Chad Ryland. The Colts capitalized on the momentum shift and scored a touchdown on their subsequent drive, with Taylor capping a 75-yard march with a 4-yard run.
The Patriots had several chances to score more points, but they wasted them with turnovers, penalties, and missed kicks. In the second quarter, Jones threw an interception to Kenny Moore II, who returned it 36 yards to the Patriots’ 44-yard line. The Colts converted the turnover into another field goal, extending their lead to 10-3. In the third quarter, the Patriots got a turnover of their own, as Myles Bryant picked off Carson Wentz’s pass and returned it 23 yards to the Colts’ 39-yard line. However, the Patriots could not capitalize on the turnover, as Ryland missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.
In the fourth quarter, the Patriots mounted a 15-play, 69-yard drive that took up almost nine minutes of the clock. They relied heavily on their running game, with Ezekiel Elliott, who had 76 yards on 18 carries, and Jones, who had 15 yards on three scrambles, moving the chains. However, the drive stalled at the Colts’ 9-yard line, and the Patriots had to settle for another field goal by Ryland, making it 10-6 with 5:12 left in the game.
The Patriots’ defense forced a three-and-out on the Colts’ next possession, giving the offense one more chance to win the game. However, Jones threw another costly interception in the red zone, as he tried to hit Mike Gesicki in the end zone, but was picked off by Khari Willis. The Colts ran out the clock with two first downs, sealing the victory.
Patriots fall to 2-8, enter bye week with many questions
With the loss, the Patriots’ season record dropped to 2-8, the worst in the AFC East and the second-worst in the NFL. The Patriots have lost four of their last five games, and have not scored more than 24 points in any game this season. The Patriots have struggled to find consistency and identity on both sides of the ball, and have been plagued by injuries, turnovers, and penalties.
The Patriots will use their bye week to reassess their direction for the remaining seven games. They will face a tough schedule, with four of their opponents having winning records, including the Bills, the Titans, the Dolphins, and the Buccaneers. The Patriots will need to improve their offense, defense, and special teams, and hope for some luck if they want to salvage their season and avoid their first losing record since 2000.
